"If I had another kidney to spare, I would donate in a heartbeat. It was life changing for my husband, and for me as a person."
My husband, Howard, was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney failure in 2018. His kidneys had deteriorated over a 20-year period due to high blood pressure.
We were fortunate enough to be able to proceed with the kidney donation pre-emptively, before he needed to go on dialysis. I wasn’t the best possible match, but was advised I was good enough and that living donation is the “gold standard” for kidney donations, so it was worth moving forward.
Deciding to donate was absolutely a no brainer. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had a spare kidney! I feel it was not only life changing for my husband, but for me as a person. I was fortunate enough to meet two other donors who had donated to their partners and their support was invaluable. If you are thinking of donating, I would say try and find someone who has done it before making up your mind. It will really made a world of difference.
The experience of testing and assessment took a few months. Nothing unpleasant, blood tests and scans of my kidneys and bladder to make sure I was in tip top health to proceed. We were allocated our own respective donor- and recipient-nurses who answered every question we had. We always felt 100% supported by the renal team, they could not have been kinder. I tried to get as fit as possible before my surgery as we were told this does aid recovery time afterwards.
I almost skipped into the operating theatre the morning of surgery. We had waited over a year to get everything in place. The anaesthetist came to see me to sign a form before the operation and asked me to choose a couple of songs. I chose upbeat songs: Staying Alive by The Bee Gees and Simply The Best by Tina Turner. I hadn’t expected music, it was fun!
The surgery went very smoothly and took a couple of hours before I woke up in recovery and chatted to the surgeon. She told me that they had started Howard’s transplant, he was in the operating theatre right next door to me.
I was in hospital for 2-3 days after my operation, during which I went to see Howard who was on a different ward. He was in good shape! It was quite uncomfortable afterwards, but Mother Nature does her thing and I was soon back on my feet. Our wonderful supportive daughter, Gemma, brought me home.
My recovery was quick with no complications. I was able to resume walking in the park fairly quickly and was back in the gym soon after. Howard felt fine as well and came out of hospital a few days later. It took him a little while to adjust to the necessary drugs, but I’m delighted to say he is fit and well.
After the donation, I went back for a three-month check-up and now have annual blood tests. The hospital said to look upon it as a free health MOT!
We now travel and enjoy life to the full. I would urge anyone who can to consider donation, whether to family member or directed.
"It has now been over a year since my donation. I have zero pain or discomfort, and I am entirely back to normal with nothing but a scar to remind me of my experience."
ReadRachel already knew more than she wanted to about the process of kidney donation before she gave her spare kidney to someone she didn’t know.
ReadHenry donated a kidney to his sister Helen, and has seen first-hand the difference a donation can make for someone with kidney disease.
Read“It has made absolutely no difference to my day-to-day life. My mum, however, has a life like never before.”
ReadNaomi knew she wanted to donate a kidney after learning about kidney disease and reality of life on dialysis.
ReadEmma donated her kidney to a stranger eight years ago after first seeing a story about non-directed donation on TV four years previously.
ReadJoyce thought that she was too old to donate a kidney, before learning there was no upper age limit for donating.
ReadMandy donated one of her kidneys to her younger cousin Lou, who was diagnosed with kidney problems when she was two years old.
Read"I don’t consider myself to be a hero or brave. I just did what I was brought up to do – to help others."
ReadJulie worked hard to stay fit and healthy while she was preparing to donate a kidney to her nephew.
Read"At the beginning it seemed like a difficult decision to make, but since the operation I don’t have any regrets."
ReadTessa believes that donating a kidney to a stranger is one of the best decisions she's ever made.
ReadLynn was 75 when she donated a kidney altruistically. "I knew I wanted to do it if I was capable of doing so."
Read“You don’t need to be a superhero, you don’t need to be a mega star of any sort. It’s something that normal people just like me can do."
ReadLaura knew she would donate a kidney to her sister if she needed it. When the time came, she found the process absolutely worth it.
ReadMatt's dream of joining the police was shattered by an unexpected diagnosis of kidney disease, but his mother's kidney donation allowed him to thrive and pursue new dreams.
Read"I've learnt a lot about myself and my own health – I would do it again in a heartbeat (if I had another kidney to spare!)"
Read"I believe that if you are in a position to help someone else less fortunate than yourself, then you should do so."
ReadEvery kidneyversary deserves a celebration, but in 2024 Elaine marked a particularly poignant milestone – 10 years since she donated a kidney to her eldest daughter.
Read"I feel immeasurably better in myself knowing I have been able to give my brother the gift of a healthy life."
ReadDennis is keen to show people that you can still live your life as normal and achieve great things after donating a kidney.
ReadWhen Ali heard that a former colleague was waiting for a kidney transplant, he knew within minutes that he would offer one of his.
Read"My mum needed a kidney, and I didn’t need both of mine. When I heard that, I didn't have any hesitation."
ReadKathryn faced life-changing kidney failure after being diagnosed with the rare disease, IgA vasculitis.
ReadMarianne has seen first hand the benefits that kidney donation can bring to a family, and feels blessed that she was able to donate a kidney to her brother.
ReadBen felt drained by kidney disease for over 12 years before his cousin gave him a second chance at life by donating his kidney.
ReadJulie donated to her son and knows first hand that donating an organ doesn’t just save a person. It saves a family.
ReadAnne donated into the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme so that her brother could receive a kidney transplant.
Read"Within both the Jain and Hindu faiths benevolence to others is supposed to be a key principle. What could be a greater act of benevolence than transforming someone’s life by giving them part of yourself?"
Read"If I had more Kidneys to give, I'd be donating to anyone who needed one."
ReadTrainee teacher Mark is grateful for the life-saving kidney transplant from his brother that put him back on track for life and his career.
ReadSheldon & Hayley watched their daughter Daisy-May go from a shock diagnosis of kidney failure to dialysis, then transplant, in an emotional rollercoaster lasting 16 months.
ReadMy donor gave me a life to live for. I have done things I had never considered doing whilst on dialysis.
ReadDavid is just an average Joe. A motorcycling, 54-year-old father and grandfather. And 6 years ago, he donated one of his kidneys to someone who needed it more than he did.
Read40 years ago, Kathleen donated one of her kidneys to Cheryl, who was just five years old at the time.
Read"Giving a small part of me that I didn’t need to someone else would make little difference in my life, but a huge difference in theirs – it was an easy decision for me to make."
ReadLiz's family struggled at first with her determination to donate her kidney to someone unrelated to her.
Read"I donated a kidney to my dad 10 years ago, aged 25. To me, it was a no brainer."
ReadSarah had seen the life-changing difference donating a kidney could have, and immediately knew it was something she wanted to do.
ReadI would not feel as comfortable in my own skin as I do now if I had not donated my kidney.
ReadPete’s kidney gave me my life back and gave my son Edward a mum with energy and vitality.
ReadWhether you’ve already decided to donate a kidney, or you are interested in finding out more about the process and what it involves, we’re here to answer any questions you might have.
